LABOR MARKET NEWS MICHIGAN S. Veteran's Day: Spotlight on Veterans in the Michigan Labor Market

Transcription

1 MICHIGAN S LABOR MARKET NEWS VOL. 73, ISSUE NO. 9 NOVEMBER Veteran's Day: Spotlight on Veterans in the Michigan Labor Market Feature Report pg. 16 Relevant Rankings: Veteran Unemployment and Labor Force Participation Rates pg. 22 Transitioning from Military Service to Civilian Jobs pg. 24

2 Michigan's unemployment rate in September was above the national rate for the first time since April. TEMBER JOBLESS RATE MICHIGAN 4.3% NATIONAL 4.2% TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 Michigan Employment and Unemployment Trends 6 Michigan Job Trends by Industry Sector 10 Regional Labor Market Analysis 15 Map of the Month: Veteran Share of the Total Adult Population by County 16 Feature Report: Spotlight on Veterans in the Michigan Labor Market 20 Michigan Online Job Advertisements 22 Relevant Rankings: Veteran Unemployment and Participation Rates by State 24 Ask the Economist BRUCE WEAVER EDITOR Economic Manager WeaverB1@michigan.gov EVAN LINSKEY CONTRIBUTOR Economic Analyst LinskeyE@michigan.gov MARCUS REASON CONTRIBUTOR Economic Analyst ReasonM@michigan.gov JAMES ASTALOS DESIGNER Economic Analyst AstalosJ@michigan.gov LEONIDAS MUREMBYA REGIONAL CONTRIBUTOR Economic Specialist MurembyaL@michigan.gov MARK REFFITT CONTRIBUTOR Economic Specialist ReffittM@michigan.gov JEFFREY AULA CONTRIBUTOR Economic Analyst AulaJ@michigan.gov JASON PALMER CONTRIBUTOR Director PalmerJ2@michigan.gov JIM RHEIN CONTRIBUTOR Economic Specialist RheinJ@michigan.gov ERIC GUTHRIE CONTRIBUTOR State Demographer GuthrieE@michigan.gov SHIBANI PUTATUNDA REGIONAL CONTRIBUTOR Economic Analyst PutatundaS@michigan.gov IT S BIGGER THAN DATA. The Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives is the official source for high quality demographic and labor market information for the state of Michigan and its regions. We administer the state s federal-state cooperative programs with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau and produce high-quality information and analysis through grants from the U.S. Department of Labor and from partner agencies in the state of Michigan. We provide our national, state, and local partners and customers with accurate, objective, reliable, timely, accessible, and transparent information and insights.

3 Michigan s unemployment rate rose in September, climbing by 0.4 percentage points to 4.3 percent. The uptick reflected an increase in labor force with unemployment up (+19,000) and employment relatively flat (-1,000). The state s jobless rate was slightly above the national average for the first time since April. The unemployment rate is 0.7 percentage points lower than this time last year. Payroll jobs also rose in September, increasing by 9,900 to 4,402,800. Job gains in Professional and business services, Education and health services, Leisure and hospitality, and Construction were partially offset by declines in Manufacturing, Government, and Trade, transportation, and utilities. Payroll jobs were up 62,000 or 1.4 percent over the year. This month, we celebrate Veterans Day with A Spotlight on Veterans in the Michigan Labor Market. Our feature story looks at some demographic and labor market trends for veterans and nonveterans in Michigan. We show that labor force participation rates are fairly low for veterans, mainly because of demographic characteristics like age and disability. We also note that unemployment rates are lower for veterans, reflecting strong employment growth since the Great Recession with solid job gains in industries and occupations that employ many veterans. Looking nationally, this month s Relevant Rankings looks at veteran participation and unemployment rates across the country. Finally, in this month s Ask the Economist, we discuss transitioning from military service to civilian jobs. We hope you enjoy this issue of Michigan s Labor Market News. Let us know if there is something you would like to know more about. Happy Veterans Day JASON PALMER DIRECTOR Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 3

4 MICHIGAN'S TEMBER JOBLESS RATE ADVANCES Michigan registered an unemployment rate increase for the second consecutive month in September, as the seasonally adjusted rate moved upward by four-tenths of a percentage point to 4.3 percent. Since August, the state s workforce rose by 17,000 while the number of unemployed increased by 19,000. Total employment was essentially flat over the month. Michigan s September unemployment rate was the highest for the state since April. September marked the first monthly gain in the state s labor force since the peak recorded in April. Although Michigan s workforce trended downward from May through August, the state s year-to-date average labor force through September of 4,878,000 remained 41,000 above the annual average. The number of unemployed in the state rose above 200,000 in September for the first month since May. However, September s unemployed count was well below any monthly level posted in. From September to September, Michigan s 32,000 or 13 percent decline in the number of unemployed was similar to the 14 percent reduction nationally over the same period. Michigan s September unemployment rate was slightly above the national average. This was the first month since April that the state s rate was above the national rate. Third Quarter Jobless Rate The state s third quarter four percent unemployment rate declined by three-tenths of a percentage point from the second quarter rate of 4.3 percent. Over the quarter, the state s workforce dropped by 1.0 percent as total employment moved down by 0.7 percent and the number of unemployed in the state decreased by 7.5 percent. From the third quarter to the third quarter, Michigan s labor force grew modestly by 8,000 or 0.2 percent. Over this period, total employment rose by 52,000 and the number of unemployed dropped by 45,000. Improvement Since 2009 Michigan s quarterly jobless rates have been falling steadily since the fourth quarter From the third quarter 2009 to the third quarter, the state s rate plunged from 14.6 percent to 4.0 percent, reflecting recovery from the national recession. Over that period, total employment jumped by 453,000 or 10.8 percent while the number of unemployed decreased by 522,000 or 73 percent. The net impact since the third quarter 2009 was a 69,000 or 1.4 percent decline in the state s workforce. Michigan s labor force would continue to move downward after 2009 for several years until the third quarter Since the third quarter 2012, the state s labor force grew by 170,000 or 3.6 percent. JIM RHEIN Economic Specialist MICHIGAN LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) CHANGE OVER THE MONTH CHANGE OVER THE YEAR Labor Force 4,843,000 4,833,000 4,850, ,000 +7,000 Employed 4,602,000 4,643,000 4,642,000-1, ,000 Unemployed 241, , , ,000-32,000 Jobless Rate MICHIGAN 2013 TO ANNUAL AVERAGE AND YEAR-TO-DATE JOBLESS RATES 10% 8.8% 8% 7.3% 5.4% 6% 4.9% 4.5% 4% 2% YTD 4 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

5 MICHIGAN 2013 TO ANNUAL AVERAGE AND YEAR-TO-DATE PAYROLL JOBS 4,450,000 4,386,600 4,350,000 4,250,000 4,325,600 4,150,000 4,050,000 4,109,700 4,182,000 4,243,500 3,950, YTD NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 5

6 MICHIGAN JOB TRENDS BY INDUSTRY SECTOR Monthly Overview Total nonfarm payrolls in Michigan moved somewhat higher in September, increasing by 9,900 to 4,402,800. This was the fourth consecutive month of job gains. The broad sectors which added the most workers in September included Professional and business services (+8,100), Education and health services (+4,400), Leisure and hospitality (+3,500), and Construction (+1,300). The industry groups registering September employment declines were Manufacturing (-4,900), Government (-1,700), and Trade, transportation, and utilities (-1,600). Jobs in the state s key Transportation equipment manufacturing sector fell by 4,800 over the month due to production adjustment layoffs in the auto industry. Over the Year Analysis Since September, Michigan nonfarm employment has grown by 62,000, or 1.4 percent. This slightly exceeded the 1.2 percent rate of gain nationally during this period. In Michigan, employment advances were reported in every major industry sector except Trade, transportation, and utilities (-4,900). The largest job addition over the past year occurred in Professional and business services (+18,400). Significant private sector payroll increases were also reported in Leisure and hospitality (+9,000), Construction (+7,600), Education and health services (+5,900), and Financial activities (+5,200). The Michigan Manufacturing sector had only modest job growth since September, up by 1,800 or just 0.3 percent. Michigan Third Quarter Performance During the third quarter, Michigan nonfarm payroll employment rose by 9,000 or 0.2 percent. This marked the 30 th consecutive quarter of job increases. This was similar to the 0.3 percent third quarter job growth nationally. In Michigan, the broad industry sectors with above average job gains included Government (+1.1 percent), Other services (+0.5 percent), Trade, transportation, and utilities (+0.4 percent), and Financial activities and Education and health services (+0.3 percent each). The broad sectors with employment reductions during the third quarter included Information (-0.3 percent), Manufacturing (-0.4 percent), Construction and Leisure and hospitality (-0.5 percent each), and Mining and logging (-1.3 percent). Payrolls in the Transportation equipment manufacturing sector declined by 1.4 percent during the quarter. Significant Industry Employment Developments DURABLE GOODS MANUFACTURING The number of jobs in the Durable goods manufacturing sector declined 5,500 in September after increasing in the previous two months. The majority of this reduction was due to layoffs that occurred in the Transportation equipment manufacturing (-4,800) subsector. A slightly stronger-than-typical September decrease in jobs was also reported in Furniture and related product manufacturing. On a quarterly basis, payrolls moved lower by 600 jobs. Despite this modest decrease during the current quarter, job levels in this sector have expanded in 29 of the past 32 quarters. Since September, job levels in this sector rose by 2,900 or by 0.6 percent. Nationally, employment was up by 4,000 over the month and by 1.1 percent over the year. HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE Payrolls in the Health care and social assistance sector rose by 4,800 in September. This was the largest one month gain in jobs since October This large monthly job advance was partially due to stronger-than-typical hiring in Ambulatory health care services and Hospitals. On a quarterly basis, payrolls advanced by 700 jobs during the July through September period, and were up in 11 of the past 12 quarters. Since September, this sector has added 8,100 jobs (+1.4 percent). The subsectors of Hospitals and Individual and family services were the primary sources of these additional jobs. Nationally, job levels increased by 13,100 over the month and by 2.0 percent over the year. ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT AND WASTE MANAGEMENT AND REMEDIATION SERVICES Employers in this sector added 4,200 workers in September. This gain was partially due to the start of the new academic year and resultant stronger-than-typical hiring in Employment services. A smaller-than-typical decline in Services to building and dwellings also contributed to the seasonally adjusted job advance. On a quarterly basis, job levels fell by 1,400 during the July through September period. This quarterly reduction in employment occurred primarily in the Employment services subsector. Between September and September, payrolls in this sector advanced by 8,300 or by 2.8 percent. Some of this overthe-year job increase was in the Services to building and dwellings industry. Nationally, jobs in Administrative services rose by 5,200 in September and by 2.9 percent over the year. METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS (MSAs) In September, on a not seasonally adjusted basis, twelve of Michigan s fourteen Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) recorded total nonfarm job gains. The metro areas with the largest monthly job additions were Lansing (+3.9 percent), Ann Arbor (+3.5 percent), Monroe (+3.1 percent), and Kalamazoo (+2.2 percent). Modest September reductions in total nonfarm jobs occurred in the Jackson (-0.2 percent) and Benton Harbor (-0.6 percent) MSAs. Common to all metro areas in September were payroll increases in the Government sector due to the start of the new academic year. Over the past year, the Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids metro areas led the way with payroll job expansion of 2.5 percent each. JEFFREY AULA Economic Analyst 6 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

7 MICHIGAN PAYROLL JOBS (SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) INDUSTRY OVER THE MONTH OVER THE YEAR LEVEL PERCENT LEVEL PERCENT TOTAL NONFARM 4,402,800 4,392,900 4,340,800 9, % 62, % Total Private 3,787,200 3,775,600 3,737,500 11, % 49, % Private Service-Providing 3,014,400 2,999,200 2,974,400 15, % 40, % GOODS-PRODUCING 772, , ,100-3, % 9, % Mining, Logging, and Construction 170, , ,500 1, % 7, % Mining and Logging 7,400 7,400 7, % % Construction 163, , ,400 1, % 7, % Manufacturing 602, , ,600-4, % 1, % Durable Goods 455, , ,100-5, % 2, % Transportation Equipment Manufacturing 176, , ,000-4, % -3, % Nondurable Goods 147, , , % -1, % SERVICE-PROVIDING 3,630,000 3,616,500 3,577,700 13, % 52, % Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 782, , ,400-1, % -4, % Wholesale Trade 174, , , % 1, % Retail Trade 468, , ,700-2, % -7, % Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities 140, , , % 1, % Information 58,300 57,900 57, % % Financial Activities 218, , , % 5, % Finance and Insurance 162, , , % 2, % Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 55,400 56,000 52, % 2, % Professional and Business Services 671, , ,000 8, % 18, % Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 307, , ,400 4, % 9, % Management of Companies and Enterprises 62,400 62,700 62, % % Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services 301, , ,400 4, % 8, % Education and Health Services 673, , ,600 4, % 5, % Educational Services 72,300 72,700 74, % -2, % Health Care and Social Assistance 601, , ,100 4, % 8, % Leisure and Hospitality 435, , ,300 3, % 9, % Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 53,100 51,100 51,300 2, % 1, % Accommodation and Food Services 382, , ,000 1, % 7, % Other Services 175, , , % 5, % Government 615, , ,300-1, % 12, % Federal Government 52,500 52,400 52, % % State Government 195, , ,700-2, % 7, % Local Government 367, , , % 5, % NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 7

8 MICHIGAN OVER THE MONTH PAYROLL JOB CHANGE (IN THOUSANDS) OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL -7.2 PERCENTAGE JOB CHANGE SECOND QUARTER TO THIRD QUARTER Government 1.1% Other Services Trade, Transportation, and Utilities Financial Activities Educational and Health Services Professional and Business Services Total Nonfarm 0.5% 0.4% 0.3% 0.3% 0.2% 0.2% Information Manufacturing Construction Leisure and Hospitality -0.3% -0.4% -0.5% -0.5% Mining and Logging -1.3% -2.0% -1.5% -1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5%

9 MICHIGAN'S OVER THE MONTH JOB CHANGE BY SELECT INDUSTRY (UST TO TEMBER ) Health Care and Social Assistance 4,800 Administrative Support and Waste Management Services 4,200 Durable Goods Manufacturing -5,500-8,000-6,000-4,000-2, ,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 METROPOLITAN AREA JOB CHANGE UST TO TEMBER (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) Lansing Ann Arbor Monroe Kalamazoo Saginaw Grand Rapids Bay City Michigan Flint Muskegon Midland Battle Creek Detroit Jackson Benton Harbor -0.6% -0.2% 0.2% 0.2% 0.8% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% 1.2% 1.1% 1.7% 2.2% 3.1% 3.5% 3.9% -2.0% -1.0% 0.0% 1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0% 5.0% NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 9

10 REGIONAL LABOR MARKET ANALYSIS ANN ARBOR METROPOLITAN AREA The jobless rate in Ann Arbor was unchanged over the month, remaining at 3.9 percent in September. Total employment in the region increased by 2.0 percent between August and September, the second largest over-the-month employment gain out of all Michigan metro areas. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Payroll jobs in Ann Arbor advanced by 7,700, or 3.5 percent, over the month, primarily due to a large seasonal education-related increase in Government of 8,300 jobs. INDUSTRY TRENDS Total nonfarm employment in Ann Arbor reached a peak of 225,200 jobs in September, a record level of payroll jobs for the region, dating to Ann Arbor was tied with Grand Rapids in having the largest over-theyear percent increase in nonfarm jobs, with a gain of 2.5 percent. BATTLE CREEK METROPOLITAN AREA In September, the unemployment rate in the Battle Creek MSA inched down by three tenths of a percentage point to 4.8 percent. Both employment and unemployment slightly declined (-200 each). Labor force edged above the level in September, reflecting a moderate increase in the number of jobseekers. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS In September, jobs in the Battle Creek MSA were mostly stable. Job gains in Education were partially offset by employment cuts in Leisure and hospitality. Since September, jobs in the Battle Creek MSA edged up, mostly coming from the Manufacturing sector. INDUSTRY TRENDS Jobs by private Service providers fell by 1,600 in 2009 but have expanded by 2,500 since then. However, this growth rate of 7.7 percent was about half the expansion pace of this sector statewide (+14.6 percent). BAY CITY METROPOLITAN AREA Unemployment in the Bay City area declined by six-tenths of a percentage point over the month, down to 5.0 percent. The civilian labor force fell by one percent over the year. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs in the region advanced by 400, or 1.1 percent, in September, due to a seasonal gain in education-related Government jobs (+500) and in the Manufacturing sector (+200). INDUSTRY TRENDS Bay City is one of only two metro areas to have exhibited a job decline over the year. The region demonstrated the largest cut in total nonfarm employment since September with a loss of 400 jobs. DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN METRO AREA Unemployment in the Detroit metro area was unchanged for the third consecutive month, remaining at 4.4 percent in September. Over the year, the number of unemployed fell by 20.3 percent in the region. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs rose by 4,200 over the month, or 0.2 percent, primarily due to a large seasonal increase in Government (+15,400) as students returned back to school for the fall. INDUSTRY TRENDS Health care and social assistance in the region continues to add employment, reaching an all-time high of 286,700 jobs in September. FLINT METROPOLITAN AREA Flint s jobless rate edged down by two-tenths of a percentage point in September to 5.6 percent, about a full percentage point higher than that of the state. Total unemployment increased by 11.0 percent over the year. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Payroll employment in Flint advanced by 1,100 in September, or 0.8 percent. Essentially all of the monthly job increase in the region was due to a seasonal gain in Government jobs, particularly Local government (+1,600). INDUSTRY TRENDS Financial activities in Flint has remained at an all-time industry low in the past 12 months. The sector has stayed consistent at a level of about 6,000 jobs since September. GRAND RAPIDS-WYOMING METROPOLITAN AREA The Grand Rapids metro area unemployment rate edged down by 0.2 percentage points between August and September, to 3.6 percent. Of all Michigan metro areas, the region exhibited the third largest total employment addition over the year, with an increase of 1.3 percent since September. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs in Grand Rapids advanced by 6,900 over the month, or 1.2 percent, primarily due to large increases in Government (+5,900) and Education and health services (+2,000) as students headed back to school. INDUSTRY TRENDS The region s Furniture and related product manufacturing sector reached a ten-year high in September with a total of 13,000 jobs. 10 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

11 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE AND NONFARM PAYROLL JOBS ANN ARBOR BATTLE CREEK BAY CITY PLACE OF RESIDENCE Labor Force 195, , ,500 64,400 64,800 64,100 51,300 51,500 51,800 Employment 188, , ,600 61,300 61,500 61,300 48,700 48,600 49,400 Unemployment 7,600 7,500 6,900 3,100 3,300 2,800 2,500 2,900 2,400 Rate (percent) PLACE OF WORK Total Nonfarm Jobs 225, , ,800 59,900 59,800 59,400 36,300 35,900 36,700 Mining, Logging, and Construction 4,400 4,600 4,300 1,700 1,700 1,700 1,100 1,100 1,100 Manufacturing 15,100 15,200 14,700 12,600 12,700 12,200 4,500 4,300 4,300 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 26,000 25,500 25,900 9,100 9,300 9,300 7,400 7,500 7,700 Wholesale Trade 5,600 5,600 5,600 * * * * * * Retail Trade 16,700 16,300 16,700 5,600 5,700 5,700 5,200 5,300 5,200 Information 5,100 5,100 5,100 * * * Financial Activities 7,100 7,300 6,900 1,300 1,300 1,300 1,200 1,200 1,300 Professional and Business Services 31,900 32,300 29,900 6,300 6,200 6,100 3,100 3,200 3,100 Educational and Health Services 27,100 26,700 26,800 11,100 10,900 11,000 6,500 6,500 6,700 Leisure and Hospitality 17,500 18,100 17,600 4,800 5,100 4,800 4,800 4,900 4,800 Other Services 6,400 6,400 6,400 2,000 2,000 2,100 1,400 1,400 1,400 Government 84,600 76,300 82,200 10,800 10,400 10,700 5,700 5,200 5,700 DETROIT-WARREN-DEARBORN FLINT GRAND RAPIDS-WYOMING PLACE OF RESIDENCE Labor Force 2,116,000 2,107,000 2,095, , , , , , ,200 Employment 2,023,000 2,014,000 1,977, , , , , , ,700 Unemployment 94,000 93, ,000 10,100 10,600 9,100 20,400 21,800 18,500 Rate (percent) PLACE OF WORK Total Nonfarm Jobs 2,022,700 2,018,500 1,987, , , , , , ,200 Mining, Logging, and Construction 79,400 79,800 72,800 5,400 5,600 5,200 24,900 25,800 23,200 Manufacturing 245, , ,200 12,400 12,600 12, , , ,700 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 364, , ,200 30,000 30,100 29,900 96,400 96,700 95,400 Wholesale Trade 86,600 86,800 86,400 5,800 5,900 5,700 31,100 31,400 30,900 Retail Trade 208, , ,700 20,400 20,400 20,300 49,500 49,400 49,400 Information 27,900 28,300 28,500 3,900 4,000 4,000 5,100 5,200 5,200 Financial Activities 115, , ,800 6,000 6,000 6,000 26,600 27,100 25,600 Professional and Business Services 408, , ,800 15,300 15,200 15,300 79,600 78,100 79,200 Educational and Health Services 313, , ,100 27,900 27,800 28,300 91,000 89,000 88,600 Leisure and Hospitality 202, , ,100 15,900 16,300 15,400 51,300 51,500 49,100 Other Services 76,400 76,900 77,100 5,500 5,600 5,500 22,500 22,600 22,300 Government 188, , ,100 18,900 16,900 19,100 48,300 42,400 46,900 * Data Not Available NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 11

12 JACKSON METROPOLITAN AREA The Jackson area jobless rate edged down to 4.6 percent in September, as the labor force fell by 500. Over the year, the number of unemployed rose by 200. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS In September, the Jackson MSA recorded a minor loss of 100. Jobs in Government and in Manufacturing were up 200 and 100, respectively. Since September, jobs in the Jackson MSA edged up by 300, all of it in Goods producing industries. INDUSTRY TRENDS Employment in Financial activities has been flat in the Jackson area over the past 10 years, at between 1,800 and 1,900. Statewide, this sector grew by 14.8 percent since the 2009 recession, adding 28,000 jobs. KALAMAZOO-PORTAGE METROPOLITAN AREA The Kalamazoo-Portage MSA recorded a seasonal employment boost in September due to a recall of support staff in the Education sector. The area jobless rate was down slightly in September to 4.3 percent, but slightly above the year-ago rate. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS The Kalamazoo-Portage MSA recorded 3,300 more jobs in September due to seasonal recalls of support staff in state and local public Education. Over the year, payroll employment grew by 2.3 percent. Jobs in almost all major sectors improved or were flat. INDUSTRY TRENDS Employment in Accommodation and food services in the Kalamazoo area fell sharply during the recession, but jobs in rebounded to 2008 levels. LANSING-EAST LANSING METROPOLITAN AREA The jobless rate in Lansing moved down by 0.4 percentage points over the month to 4.3 percent, just under the statewide average. The unemployment rate advanced by 0.6 percentage points over the year, an increase that is tied with Flint as the second largest unemployment rate gain since September. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Payroll employment in Lansing demonstrated a large over-themonth increase of 8,900 jobs, or 3.9 percent, mainly due to a typical seasonal addition of 8,300 jobs in the region s Government sector. INDUSTRY TRENDS Employment in Transportation, warehousing, and utilities in Lansing has risen in the past few months, reaching a peak level of 9,500 jobs in September. MIDLAND METROPOLITAN AREA Labor market conditions were little changed in September, as the jobless rate in Midland declined by 0.3 percentage points to 4.4 percent. The area jobless rate was slightly above the year-ago rate of 4.1 percent. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs in Midland edged up slightly between August and September, with an increase of 200 jobs over the month. The advancement of jobs in the region was primarily the result of an education-related 300-job gain in the Government sector. INDUSTRY TRENDS For the second consecutive month, Goods producing jobs in Midland exhibited an all-time low of 8,100 jobs. MONROE METROPOLITAN AREA The Monroe metro region jobless rate edged up in September by two-tenths of a percentage point to 5.5 percent. Monroe was the only region in Michigan to exhibit an increase in the unemployment rate in September, due to strong monthly labor force growth. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs in Monroe advanced by 1,300 jobs, or 3.1 percent, over the month, primarily due to gains in Government (+800), Mining, logging, and construction (+200), and Education and health services (+200). INDUSTRY TRENDS Professional and business services in the Monroe region moved up slightly over the month to 5,500 jobs, resulting in a new all-time high job count. MUSKEGON METROPOLITAN AREA Muskegon s unemployment rate declined by half a percentage point over the month, to 5.3 percent in September. The civilian labor force advanced by 0.7 percent over the year, an increase close to that of the state s at 0.8 percent. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Payroll employment in the Muskegon region rose by 400 between August and September, a gain of 0.6 percent. Monthly job additions occurred in both the Government (+900) and Professional and business services (+200) sectors. INDUSTRY TRENDS For the fourth consecutive month, employment remained at a tenyear high of 2,200 jobs in the area s Mining, logging, and construction sector. 12 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

13 CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE AND NONFARM PAYROLL JOBS JACKSON KALAMAZOO-PORTAGE LANSING-EAST LANSING PLACE OF RESIDENCE Labor Force 73,900 74,400 73, , , , , , ,600 Employment 70,500 70,700 70, , , , , , ,400 Unemployment 3,400 3,600 3,200 7,300 7,800 6,700 10,500 11,300 9,200 Rate (percent) PLACE OF WORK Total Nonfarm Jobs 58,300 58,400 58, , , , , , ,000 Mining, Logging, and Construction 2,100 2,100 2,000 6,900 6,800 6,400 7,900 8,100 7,600 Manufacturing 10,400 10,300 9,900 21,900 21,800 21,600 20,100 20,200 20,900 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 12,500 12,700 12,800 26,500 26,800 26,400 37,300 37,700 36,900 Wholesale Trade * * * 7,000 7,100 6,900 6,000 6,000 6,000 Retail Trade 6,500 6,600 6,700 16,000 16,200 16,000 21,800 22,300 21,700 Information ,900 2,900 2,900 Financial Activities 1,800 1,800 1,800 8,500 8,600 8,400 16,200 16,400 16,000 Professional and Business Services 4,800 4,800 4,800 19,000 19,000 17,500 21,800 21,500 22,400 Educational and Health Services 10,200 10,300 10,400 23,500 23,200 23,200 32,500 31,800 32,100 Leisure and Hospitality 5,900 6,000 5,500 16,700 17,000 16,300 21,300 20,700 19,700 Other Services 2,500 2,500 2,500 5,500 5,500 5,500 10,500 10,600 10,500 Government 7,800 7,600 8,000 21,900 18,400 21,700 65,900 57,600 65,000 MIDLAND MONROE MUSKEGON PLACE OF RESIDENCE Labor Force 40,500 40,600 40,800 77,900 76,900 76,700 77,200 77,700 76,700 Employment 38,800 38,700 39,100 73,600 72,800 73,400 73,100 73,200 73,000 Unemployment 1,800 1,900 1,700 4,300 4,100 3,200 4,100 4,500 3,800 Rate (percent) PLACE OF WORK Total Nonfarm Jobs 37,700 37,500 38,000 43,400 42,100 42,900 64,500 64,100 63,800 Mining, Logging, and Construction * * * 2,200 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,200 2,100 Manufacturing * * * 5,900 5,900 5,700 14,000 14,000 13,500 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities * * * 11,100 11,000 10,900 13,400 13,400 13,500 Wholesale Trade * * * 1,900 1,800 1,800 * * * Retail Trade * * * 5,200 5,200 5,200 10,500 10,600 11,000 Information * * * * * * Financial Activities * * * ,000 1,700 1,700 1,700 Professional and Business Services * * * 5,500 5,400 5,300 3,700 3,500 3,600 Educational and Health Services * * * 5,400 5,200 5,400 10,700 10,800 11,100 Leisure and Hospitality * * * 5,100 5,200 5,000 8,200 8,600 7,800 Other Services * * * 1,500 1,500 1,600 2,300 2,500 2,300 Government 3,100 2,800 3,100 5,100 4,300 5,300 7,500 6,600 7,400 * Data Not Available NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 13

14 NILES-BENTON HARBOR METROPOLITAN AREA In September, both employment and unemployment dropped, resulting in a jobless rate reduction to 4.6 percent. Since September, employment contracted as did the labor force. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS In September, despite a seasonal gain of jobs in private and public Education, total jobs in the Niles-Benton Harbor region fell, mainly due to job losses in Leisure and hospitality and in Trade, transportation and utilities. Since September, Leisure and hospitality and Manufacturing added jobs. INDUSTRY TRENDS Jobs in the private Service providing industries in the Niles-Benton Harbor MSA have being growing at a fifth of the expansion pace of this sector statewide since the 2009 recession. SAGINAW METROPOLITAN AREA For the second consecutive month, the Saginaw jobless rate declined by four-tenths of a percentage point, down to a rate of 5.1 percent in September. The civilian labor force increased by 0.3 percent both over the month and over the year. MONTHLY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS Total nonfarm jobs in the Saginaw region advanced by 1,500, or 1.7 percent over the month, due to a seasonal gain of 1,800 jobs in the Government sector. INDUSTRY TRENDS For the fourth consecutive month, Manufacturing in Saginaw remained at a ten-year high of 13,000 jobs. Prior to this year, this was a job level that had not been seen since December CIVILIAN LABOR FORCE AND NONFARM PAYROLL JOBS PLACE OF RESIDENCE NILES-BENTON HARBOR SAGINAW Labor Force 73,800 74,900 74,300 88,800 88,500 88,500 Employment 70,400 71,200 70,900 84,200 83,600 84,400 Unemployment 3,400 3,700 3,300 4,500 4,900 4,100 Rate (percent) PLACE OF WORK Total Nonfarm Jobs 63,600 64,000 63,100 90,400 88,900 89,500 Mining, Logging, and Construction 2,100 2,100 2,000 3,300 3,300 3,100 Manufacturing 13,800 13,800 13,400 13,000 13,000 12,700 Trade, Transportation, and Utilities 10,600 11,300 10,700 17,500 17,500 17,200 Wholesale Trade * * * 2,200 2,200 2,200 Retail Trade 6,500 6,600 6,500 12,800 12,800 12,500 Information ,500 1,500 1,400 Financial Activities 2,300 2,300 2,300 3,600 3,600 3,600 Professional and Business Services 5,800 5,600 6,000 11,400 11,200 11,400 Educational and Health Services 9,200 8,700 9,200 16,300 16,500 16,200 Leisure and Hospitality 8,200 8,900 7,900 9,200 9,400 9,400 Other Services 2,300 2,400 2,400 3,200 3,300 3,200 Government 8,800 8,400 8,700 11,400 9,600 11,300 PLACE OF RESIDENCE UPPER PENINSULA NORTHEAST MICHIGAN NORTHWEST MICHIGAN Labor Force 139, , ,500 83,900 84,700 83, , , ,900 Employment 132, , ,100 79,000 79,400 79, , , ,500 Unemployment 7,200 7,900 7,400 4,900 5,400 4,600 6,800 7,400 6,500 Rate (percent) STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

15 MAP OF THE MONTH: VETERAN SHARE OF THE TOTAL ADULT POPULATION BY COUNTY Veteran Percent of the Total Adult Population by County This map displays the veteran share of the total adult population by county. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, year estimates Michigan Counties with the Most Veterans One way of describing the veteran population is by showing the counties with the most veterans. However, this would not look much different than a population map. Indeed, just over a third of all veterans are concentrated in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Another 5 percent are in Kent County followed by 4 percent in Genesee County. Ingham, Washtenaw, Kalamazoo, Ottawa, Saginaw, and Muskegon round out the leading counties, with each being home to roughly 2 percent of the state s veteran population. All other counties combined make up about 40 percent of the state s veteran population. Michigan Counties with the Highest Share of Veterans Another way of showing veterans in the labor market is by displaying the share of the total, adult population that are veterans. This is what is shown in the map above. This gives a more nuanced picture. For example, in Keweenaw County, 19.2 percent of the adult population are veterans, shown as a dark green shade. Half a dozen other counties are in this category with high shares of veterans. Importantly, not one of those six were mentioned earlier when discussing counties with the most veterans. In fact, all the counties with the largest numbers of veterans display relatively small shares in the map above. Both measures are important. The number of veterans is useful for knowing where many veterans reside, mainly in population centers. The veteran share of the total adult population shows where veterans comprise a larger percentage of the population, typically in rural areas. While Michigan's southern counties are home to more veterans, you are more likely to meet a veteran on the street in Northern Michigan. ERIC GUTHRIE State Demographer NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 15

16 SPOTLIGHT ON VETERANS IN THE MICHIGAN LABOR MARKET No doubt, veterans are a critical part of any labor market. They contribute diversity not only in terms of their unique demographic characteristics, but also because of their experience and the skills, knowledge, and abilities they offer employers. Through their service, veterans develop important skills in leadership and management, and gain a range of technical competencies that help them to transition to many industries and occupations in the civilian labor market. This article will highlight some demographic and labor market indicators for veterans in the state s labor market. This is done mainly by comparing the veteran and nonveteran populations to provide insights about their differences. We hope this information will provide a better understanding of veterans in the workforce and help our talent partners support those who have served our country. Veteran Population and Demographics In, Michigan was home to 559,200 veterans, representing 7.2 percent of the state s total adult population, a number that is on par with the 7.4 percent share nationally. Since 2007, the state s veteran population has dropped by 190,600 or 25 percent, outpacing the 19 percent decline nationally. Some highlights from the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau (): Veterans are older than nonveterans. Over half (55 percent) of veterans are age 65 and over, compared to just 18 percent of the nonveteran population. This means that 45 percent of veterans are 18 to 64, compared to 82 percent for nonveterans. As we will see, this has major implications for veteran labor force participation rates. MICHIGAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATES FOR VETERANS AND NONVETERANS 2007 TO * 20% Veterans Nonveterans 15% 10% 5% 0% * * is a 12-month moving average from October to September 16 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

17 Veterans are more likely to be male than nonveterans. It is no surprise that 93 percent of veterans are male, compared to 45 percent of nonveterans. This may explain some of the trends in industry and occupational employment discussed later. Veterans are less likely to be people of color. About 87 percent of veterans are white, compared to 80 percent for nonveterans. Veterans who are Black or African American make up 10 percent of the veteran population, while those reporting two or more races comprise 1.5 percent. Veterans are more likely to have a disability. Thirty-one percent of veterans reported a disability, compared to just 16 percent of nonveterans. Among these disabilities are service-related disabilities that may interfere with a veteran s ability to work. While these demographic characteristics are important on their own, adding labor market information to the mix paints a picture of the economic and workforce experiences of veterans. Labor Force Participation The labor force participation rate for veterans was 43.7 percent in, well below the 63.9 percent for nonveterans. Participation rates for veterans in Michigan rank 49th among all states and the District of Columbia, coming in behind only West Virginia and Rhode Island. (See Relevant Rankings on page 22.) There are several reasons why residents (veterans and nonveterans) may not participate in the labor market. Some leading reasons include retirement, illness or disability, education or training, and household responsibilities. In Michigan and elsewhere, lower participation among veterans is mostly related to their older average age and higher likelihood of reporting a disability, two demographic characteristics discussed earlier. However, when focusing on just residents aged 18 to 64, the gap in participation narrows, with veteran and nonveteran participation rates both near 75 percent. MICHIGAN LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATES FOR VETERANS AND NONVETERANS 2007 TO * 75% Veterans Nonveterans 50% 25% 0% * NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 17

18 While most of the veterans who are out of the labor market are on the sidelines because of retirement or a disability, it is important to note that some are out because they quit looking for work. While this is a small share, it represents veterans who are counted as discouraged workers. Among these discouraged workers are those who have quit looking for work because they believe no work is available in their line of work or area. This category is particularly important when thinking about veterans, and may point to those who are having a tough time connecting or describing how their military service relates to jobs in the civilian labor market. This is discussed in more detail in this month s Ask the Economist on page 24. Unemployment In, the unemployment rate for veterans measured 3.2 percent in Michigan, considerably lower than the 4.7 percent for nonveterans. Michigan ranks 10th among all states and the District of Columbia with the lowest veteran unemployment rate. (See Relevant Rankings on page 22.) Today, the veteran unemployment rate is a fraction of what it was in 2010, when joblessness among veterans hit a recent peak at 16 percent. During that period, elevated unemployment rates were tied to the fallout from the Great Recession (December 2007-June 2009), leaving few groups, including veterans, unscathed. In fact, veteran unemployment was higher than the nonveteran rate for five of the eight years between 2007 and By 2014, the veteran rate had returned to parity with the nonveteran rate and has remained at or below the nonveteran rate since. Why the improvement? First, the economy and labor market have improved significantly since Second, sharp increases in payroll employment have been seen in industries like Construction, Manufacturing, Professional, and Health care industries, each employing a considerable number or large share of veterans. That is, the recovery from the recession meant more jobs in industries and occupations that appear to attract veterans. Industry and Occupational Employment Of course, veterans and nonveterans work together in all areas of the labor market. So, how can we identify the industries and occupations that appear to attract veterans? One way is to measure the share of total employed veterans and nonveterans that work in particular industries or occupations. For example, 23 percent of all employed veterans are working in Manufacturing, compared to 19 percent of nonveterans. A few other highlights: Veterans are more likely to be employed in Construction than nonveterans, with 8 percent of veteran employment in the industry compared to 5 percent for nonveterans. Like Manufacturing, the Construction industry has many positions that relate to military experience. Trade, transportation, and utilities is another industry with a large share of veterans, with 23 percent of employed veterans in the industry compared to 17 percent of nonveterans. A higher share of veterans in this industry reflects everything from entry-level jobs in Retail trade, to middle-skill positions in Transportation, to high-paying careers in Utilities. The industry with the largest difference between veterans and nonveterans is Public administration, where 8 percent of all veterans are employed, compared to just 3 percent of all nonveterans. This likely reflects veterans who have transitioned from military service to civilian service in government jobs. On the other hand, industries with a lower share of veterans include Private educational services, Health care and social assistance, and Leisure and hospitality. Each of these industries employ more women than men, with females outnumbering males by 3 to 1 in Health care and social assistance and 2 to 1 in Private education and health services. This may explain why a lower share of veterans, who are 93 percent male, are employed in these industries. The same analysis can be done for occupations. For example, 12 percent of employed veterans are working in Production occupations, compared to 10 percent of nonveterans. This makes sense as Production occupations are largely concentrated in the Manufacturing industry, an industry that was identified as one that employs a higher share of veterans. Other occupational highlights: Beyond Production, other occupations with a higher share of veteran employment include Transportation and material moving and Construction. Again, these correspond to industries with a larger share of veteran employment as discussed above. MICHIGAN EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY, VETERANS AND NONVETERANS Nonveterans Veterans Natural Resources & Mining 1% Construction 8% Manufacturing Trade, Transportation & Utilities 23% 23% Information 2% Financial Activities 4% Professional & Business Services 8% Private Educational Services 4% Health Care & Social Assistance 10% Leisure & Hospitality 4% Other Services 6% Public Administration 8% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 18 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

19 Veterans have a lower share in several occupational categories, including Administrative support, Health care, and Services. Like the industries noted above, these are mostly female-dominated occupations, partially explaining the lower share of veterans working in these jobs. Importantly, veterans and nonveterans are almost equally represented in high-paying occupational categories like Management and Professional. Many of the job titles in these categories require bachelor s degrees or higher and the leadership and management skills many veterans develop during their service. Other Insights Beyond the demographic and labor market characteristics discussed so far, there are other interesting subjects worth discussing. This section provides a brief but important description of veterans on topics ranging from business ownership to location. Period of Service The U.S. Census Bureau reports information on veterans by their period of service. According to these numbers, nearly 39 percent of all Michigan veterans are Vietnam era veterans. This is followed by Gulf War I and Gulf War II veterans at 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Rounding out the series are Korean War veterans (10 percent) and World War II veterans (5 percent). Information on period of service tracks closely with statistics on veteran age and is an important insight into working-age veterans, coming primarily from the Gulf War I, Gulf War II, and tail-end of the Vietnam era groups. Income Median income for veterans in measured $35,566, above the $26,792 reported for nonveterans. Both male and female veterans earn more than their nonveteran counterparts, with male veterans reporting $35,957 compared to male nonveterans at $34,283 and female veterans earning $30,699 compared to female nonveterans at $21,852. Poverty Poverty status for veterans is considerably better than for nonveterans. In, about 7 percent of veterans had income that was considered below the poverty level, about half of the nearly 14 percent of nonveterans with income below the poverty level. Business Ownership According to the U.S. Census Bureau s Annual Survey of Entrepreneurs, over 11,000 Michigan businesses were veteran-owned in, representing 7.4 percent of the total businesses counted in this source. Over half (55 percent) of veteran-owned firms are concentrated in five industries: Professional, scientific, and technical services (1,620 firms), Construction (1,266), Health care and social assistance (1,102), Retail trade (1,000), and Manufacturing (1,025). Veteran-owned firms employ 114,000 people, with 40 percent coming from Manufacturing (25,575 employees) and Accommodation and food service (19,700). About 450 or 4 percent of veteran-owned firms are owned by minorities, with the largest number (245 or 54 percent) owned by Black or African Americans. Location This month s Map of the Month (page 15) shows for each county in Michigan the share of the total, adult population that are veterans. The counties with the highest concentration of veterans are typically rural areas, like Keweenaw (19.2 percent), Alcona (17.3 percent), and Ontonagon (17.0 percent). When looking instead at the counties with the largest numbers of veterans, a different picture emerges. In that case, over a third of all veterans are concentrated in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, with other metropolitan areas following. JASON PALMER Director MARCUS REASON Economic Analyst MICHIGAN EMPLOYMENT BY OCCUPATION, VETERANS AND NONVETERANS Nonveterans Veterans Management 10% Professional 17% Health Care 5% Service 12% Sales 8% Administrative Support 9% Farm 1% Construction & Repair 15% Production 12% Transportation 11% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 19

20 MICHIGAN ONLINE JOB POSTINGS MOVE DOWN IN TEMBER The Conference Board s Help Wanted Online Data Series showed a monthly decrease in Michigan seasonally-adjusted online job postings in September. Job postings moved down by -1.2 percent from the previous month. This was the fourth straight month with a decline in Michigan online job postings. At the national level, seasonally-adjusted job ads inched up by just 0.1 percent. This increase amounted to 2,450 additional job ads in September. This also broke a streak of three straight months of decreasing national job postings. Job ads fell throughout the Midwest Region in September, as the states of Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Illinois saw decreases of -6.6 percent, -3.1 percent, -3.0 percent, and -0.9 percent, respectively. Michigan Supply/Demand Rate Moves Up The Michigan supply/demand rate, or the number of unemployed persons per job advertisement, rose for the third straight month. This brought the supply/demand rate to 1.44 percent, which was the highest rate since April of this year. The ad rate is measured by the number of job ads per 100 labor force participants. This measure edged down slightly in Michigan from 2.75 to September was the fourth month in a row where the ad rate declined. Nationally, the ad rate also remained relatively unchanged at Michigan Job Ads by Education Requirement Michigan s online job ads were led by positions that typically require a Bachelor s degree at 35 percent of all postings. Second were jobs requiring a high school diploma or some college (with no degree) at 33 percent of all ads. Jobs requiring no formal education credential accounted for 15 percent, followed by associate s degree or vocational training (12 percent), and master s degree or higher (5 percent). Ads by Occupation (Not Seasonally Adjusted) Information is available on advertised job vacancies by broad occupational group from the Help Wanted Online Data Series, but the data is not seasonally adjusted. Job ads by occupation displayed mixed trends in September. Healthcare registered the largest decline in total available ads, down by -1,000 ads or -4.2 percent. Professional and Management occupations both had a monthly drop of 550 ads in September. Sales ads were the big winner, increasing by 700 or 5.1 percent. Administrative support had the second largest gain in job ads at 250 or 1.9 percent. Of the 140,150 total available ads, 57,400 of them were new ads. Most of the new ads posted were from the Professional category with 29 percent of all new ads. The category with the largest new ad to available ad ratio was Construction, with 55 percent of all ads being newly posted. EVAN LINSKEY Economic Analyst 20 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

21 MICHIGAN SUPPLY / DEMAND RATE MICHIGAN JOB ADS BY EDUCATION REQUIREMENT 9/1/ 1.44% 8/1/ 1.36% 7/1/ 1.32% 6/1/ 1.30% 15% 12% 5/1/ 1.40% 4/1/ 1.63% 3/1/ 0.00% 0.20% 0.40% 0.60% 0.80% 1.00% 1.20% 1.40% 1.60% 1.80% 1.75% 33% 35% Source: The Conference Board, Help Wanted Online (HWOL) 5% Associate's Degree or Vocational Training (12%) Bachelor's Degree (35%) Master's Degree (5%) High School Diploma or Some College, No Degree (33%) No Formal Education Credential (15%) Source: The Conference Board, Help Wanted Online (HWOL) TOTAL AVAILABLE ADS (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED) OCCUPATION CATEGORIES OVER THE MONTH LEVEL PERCENT TOTAL 140, , ,150-1, % Professional 41,550 42,100 49, % Healthcare 22,650 23,650 23,800-1, % Sales 14,450 13,750 16, % Administrative Support 13,300 13,050 15, % Service 12,600 12,650 16, % Construction and Repair 9,900 10,250 11, % Management 9,450 10,000 10, % Transportation 9,000 9,100 10, % Production 6,900 6,800 7, % Farming, Fishing, And Forestry % Source: The Conference Board, Help Wanted Online (HWOL) NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 21

22 RELEVANT RANKINGS VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE BY STATE - VETERAN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE UNEMPLOYED VETERANS 1 Indiana 1.8 5,000 2 New Hampshire 2.1 1,000 3 Hawaii 2.2 1,000 4 Vermont 2.2 1,000 5 Utah 2.3 2, Michigan 3.2 8, Kentucky 3.9 5, North Dakota 3.9 1, Nevada 4.0 5, Delaware 4.1 1, Nebraska 4.1 3, New York , Minnesota , Oregon 6.3 9, Illinois , District of Columbia 7.6 1,000 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 22 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

23 VETERAN LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE BY STATE - VETERAN LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE VETERAN LABOR FORCE VETERANS NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE 1 Alaska ,000 27,000 2 Maryland , ,000 3 Virginia , ,000 4 South Dakota ,000 32,000 5 North Dakota ,000 22, Maine ,000 62, California , , Connecticut , , Vermont ,000 23, Louisiana , , Colorado , , Massachusetts , , New York , , Michigan , , West Virginia ,000 87, Rhode Island ,000 38,000 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 23

24 ASK THE ECONOMIST Q: I m a military veteran making the transition into the civilian labor market. How do I find non-military career opportunities that are a good match for me, and what are some resources that I can turn to for help?

25 A: There are some ways for veterans to identify how their military experience can translate to civilian careers... Although many military veterans may be experiencing positive labor market outcomes, there remain those who are experiencing difficulty in their job searches. The challenge for these veterans is finding work that is aptly suited for them based on their skills, knowledge, and experiences gained during their time of military service. Job classification codes in the military do not always perfectly align with civilian occupations, and where they do match up, common skills may not be apparent to veteran jobseekers or to those assisting them as they transition into the civilian labor market. Fortunately, there exist some tools to help identify which careers might be well-suited to those with military experience. Military job duties are categorized according to the Military Occupational Classification (MOC) system. According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Manpower Data Center, nearly 75 percent of all military jobs fall into one of six major categories (highlighted in the table on the opposite page). Meanwhile, civilian jobs are classified according to the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. These are two different systems with the same general goal of categorizing occupations according to specific job duties and responsibilities. Occupational crosswalk tools such as those available from O*Net Online enable jobseekers and researchers the ability to match military jobs with similar occupations in the civilian labor market. The table on the opposite page was created using the O*Net crosswalk tool. For each of the six main MOC categories, we used methodology similar to that used in our Michigan s Hot 50 Jobs product to identify highdemand, high-wage civilian careers by SOC title that share similar characteristics to each broad military classification category. Fortunately for veterans, the six categories making up three-quarters of all military jobs appear to match up well with some civilian careers that pay above-average wages and are projected to grow at above-average rates through And in many cases, with the exception of engineering and related jobs, the required education for entry into many of these careers is below a bachelor s degree, perhaps lessening the impact of yet another potential barrier for veteran jobseekers. So, if you are a veteran looking for work postservice time, where can you turn for additional help? The following are some resources for veterans looking to transition into the civilian labor market: Michigan Talent Investment Agency The Talent Investment Agency can help veterans in many ways. One way is with the Veterans Employment Services program and it s team of highly skilled Veterans Career Advisors. These men and women know veterans and the challenges veterans face when reentering the civilian workforce. They are veterans themselves and have experienced many of those challenges first hand. They work specifically with veterans with significant barriers to employment and connect veterans to resources they need to be successful. Michigan Works! Michigan Works! is committed to helping veterans achieve success in civilian employment. The Michigan Works! System is made up of regional Michigan Works! Agencies that are on the front lines, meeting the talent demands of employers, responding to the unique needs of each community and developing talent for the 21st century economy. Michigan Works! strives to ensure that all veterans and transitioning service members have access to the tools needed to find good jobs with good wages and career pathways. Michigan Works! partners with communities to meet the diverse needs of all customers, including veterans. For additional information on services available to veterans, contact your local Michigan Works! Agency, (800) 285-WORKS (9675) or Pathfinder Pathfinder is yet another tool you may find helpful when exploring a career change or thinking about returning to school. If you re thinking about going back to school and are interested in the types of programs schools offer, comparing programs in different schools, or seeing how much additional schooling might cost, this interactive tool can help you come up with an educational and career plan that suits your needs. Pathfinder also provides information on projected job growth for occupations of interest to you, years of education required for entry into those occupations, types of education and training programs to consider, and which schools offer those programs. Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency employment This is a good resource for veterans who are in the process of starting a career search. Here you can get support and help with things like finding jobs, learning about veteran-friendly employers, obtaining licensing and credentialing in your areas of expertise, and finding other general information on obtaining employment. O*Net Online The online resource O*Net is a great place to turn for determining which type of jobs best fit your skills and credentials. This website enables you to search occupation types by your abilities, skills, knowledge, interests, and many other categories. As mentioned, the O*Net s Crosswalk Search allows you to search relevant positions based on your field of service and military occupation classification. MARK REFFITT Economic Specialist NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 25

26 VETERAN CAREER OPPORTUNITIES MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION (MOC) GROUP OCCUPATIONAL TITLE (SOC) Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Combat Specialty (Infantry, Artillery, Special Forces) Construction Laborers Business Operations Specialists Firefighters Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Transportation (Vehicle Drivers, Cargo Specialists, Aircrew Members) Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, & Weighers Cargo and Freight Agents Operations Research Analysts Engineering, Science, and Technical (IT Specialist, Intelligence Analyst, Health and Safety Specialist) Computer Systems Analysts Information Security Analysts Interpreters and Translators Vehicle and Machinery Mechanic (Avionic Mechanic, Artillery Mechanic, Heating and Cooling Mechanics) First-Line Supv. of Mechanics, Installers, & Repairers Machinists Industrial Machinery Mechanics Heating, Air Conditioning, Refrig. Mech. & Installers Electronic and Electrical Equipment Repair (Computer Systems Repairer, Radio and Comm. Security, Signal Systems Support) Electricians Maintenance and Repair Workers, General First-Line Supv. of Mechanics, Installers, & Repairers Industrial Machinery Mechanics Health Care (Health Care Specialist, Nurse, Dental Specialist) Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics Phlebotomists Registered Nurses Dental Hygienists 26 STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY, MANAGEMENT, AND BUDGET BUREAU OF LABOR MARKET INFORMATION AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

27 CURRENT VACANCIES ANNUAL AVERAGE OPENINGS THROUGH 2024 PROJECTED JOB GROWTH THROUGH 2024 MEDIAN WAGE REQUIRED EDUCATION % $28.29 High school diploma or equivalent % $17.17 High school diploma or equivalent % $29.44 Bachelor's degree % $20.99 High school diploma or equivalent 4,265 1, % $19.07 Postsecondary non-degree award % $17.81 Postsecondary non-degree award % $15.35 High school diploma or equivalent % $20.11 High school diploma or equivalent % $39.70 Bachelor's degree 1, % $40.77 Bachelor's degree % $42.32 Bachelor's degree % $20.78 Bachelor's degree 1, % $30.19 High school diploma or equivalent 611 1, % $19.19 High school diploma or equivalent % $24.46 High school diploma or equivalent % $22.34 High school diploma or equivalent % $27.92 High school diploma or equivalent 2,111 1, % $16.79 High school diploma or equivalent 1, % $30.19 High school diploma or equivalent % $24.46 High school diploma or equivalent % $14.33 Postsecondary non-degree award % $14.09 Postsecondary non-degree award 8,089 3, % $32.43 Bachelor's degree % $29.42 Associate's degree NOVEMBER MICHIGAN'S LABOR MARKET NEWS 27

28 STATE OF MICHIGAN Department of Technology, Management & Budget Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives Detroit Office Cadillac Place 3032 West Grand Boulevard Suite Detroit, Michigan (313) Lansing Office Victor Office Building, Floor North Washington Square Lansing, Michigan (517) In accordance with Michigan Law and the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, an alternate format of this printed material may be obtained by contacting: Bruce Weaver, Economic Manager, Department of Technology, Management & Budget, Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives, 3032 West Grand Boulevard, Suite 9-150, Detroit Michigan 48202, (313) or weaverb1@michigan.gov.